|
|
Victorina picks up Azalea Harry Aleo's VICTORINA (Delaware Township) was taken in hand after breaking on top in Saturday's $295,500 Azalea Breeders' Cup S. (G3) and settled into a perfect stalking position in midpack as Frolicing (Royal Academy) ripped off opening splits in :21 3/5 and :44 4/5. The sophomore filly advanced into contention leaving the far turn as the pacesetter drifted out, and Victorina rallied boldly to reach the lead and draw off, recording a 1 1/2-length decision in the first of four graded stakes on Calder's Summit of Speed program. Trained by Greg Gilchrist and ridden by Russell Baze, Victorina finished six furlongs in 1:11 2/5 and paid $5.60, $2.80 and $2.20 as the 9-5 favorite. Frolicing, who gave up the lead soon after leading the way through five panels in :57 3/5, bore out repeatedly through the stretch run and was disqualified from second for impeding G City Gal (Elusive Quality), who steadied noticeably a couple of times before winding up 1 1/4 lengths behind Frolicing. G City Gal was off at 2-1 and returned $3 and $2.60. The near 6-1 Frolicing gave back $3.20, while the $2 exotics totaled $17.20 (exacta), $50.60 (trifecta) and $314.80 (superfecta). A Sea Trippi (Trippi) rounded out the 7-4-1-5 super and was followed under the wire by Rich Fantasy (Richter Scale), Morner (Broken Vow), Bayou's Lassie (Outflanker) and Mykindasaint (Saint Ballado). Bred in Florida by Sez Who Thoroughbreds, Victorina brought a final bid of $160,000 from her connections at last year's OBS April two-year-old sale. She's the first stakes winner out of the winning Since Time Began (Rubiano), who is also the dam of the unraced juvenile filly Sydney's Lexington (Outofthebox), a yearling filly by Precise End and a 2006 filly by More Than Ready. The 12-year-old mare is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Remember Sheikh (Sheikh Albadou [GB]). Victorina, who was exiting a troubled third in the Dogwood Breeders' Cup S. (G3), has posted wins in the Meafara S. and Eire Go Brach S. this year. She more than doubled her career earnings to $330,378 on Saturday, and her career line now reads 8-5-2-1. Gilchrist said the Test S. (G1) at Saratoga on August 5 could be next.
 Send this article to a friend
|
|
